MANILA, Philippines - Philex Mining Corp. has planted a total of 305,590 seedlings of various forest- and fruit-tree species across 250 hectares of the newly and previously established areas at its Padcal mine site in Benguet, and another 140 hectares of the previously established plantation areas for enhancement.
Rudy Saguid, environment manager at Padcal, said not only has this project helped in soil conservation, it also created income for the surface owners in Itogon.
Philex has also engaged surface owners for plantation maintenance, following the site preparation and planting. “Our focus was both on environmental protection and employment,†Saguid said.
He explained that seven contractors, who are claim owners, have a three-year contract with Philex Mining for the expansion of Padcal’s reforestation program since last year, while nine contractors, composed of landowners, have been in charge of Padcal’s agro-forestry project under a five-year agreement that runs until 2017.
A total of 178,924 tree seedlings were planted on the newly established areas covering 175 hectares of the above-mentioned 250-hectare area spread across seven reforestation sites in Itogon’s Barangay Ampucao, while 62,592 seedlings of assorted forest and fruit trees were planted on the remaining 75 hectares allotted for agro-forestry.
An integration of fruit-bearing trees and lowland hardwood, the agro-forestry project covers the surrounding area of Padcal’s Tailings Storage Facility No. 3 (TSF).
The reforestation project, on the other hand, is spread across seven sites in Itogon’s Barangay Ampucao.
Itogon is one of the two towns (the other being Tuba) hosting Philex Mining operations in Benguet.
Saguid said another 64,074 assorted seedlings were planted for the enhancement of Padcal’s reforestation project in the previously established 140-hectare area.
Last year’s reforestation and agro-forestry projects in Padcal have brought to over 8 million seedlings of various forest and fruit-bearing tree species planted across 2,465 hectares of land in Itogon and Tuba.
“We also continue to maintain and protect these areas throughout the year,†said Saguid, who stressed that besides propagating both trees and agricultural/horticultural crops in reforestation areas, Padcal has also been providing seedlings for, and participates in the tree-planting activities of schools and local government units (LGUs) in Benguet.
A total of 6,610 planting stocks/seedlings were provided last year to the Tuba LGU, the Region 1 office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Ligay Elementary School (in Tuba’s Sitio Ligay, Brgy. Camp 1), Ampucao National High School (Brgy. Ampucao, Itogon), Philex Bikers’ Club, the scholars of Padcal who were studying in the various colleges and universities in Baguio City and Benguet, various civic organizations, and private individuals.
“This was part of our commitment to support the tree-planting activities outside of Padcal as well as DENR’s National Greening Program,†Saguid said. “We have more activities geared toward environmental protection for this year.â€